Thomas cook



THOMAS COOK, OF NEW YORK, Nl Y.

VlVlLltCI-IINI'] FOR CUTTING MATCH-SPLINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,263, dated May 12, 1857.

To all whom t may concern Be 1t known that I, THOMAS OooK, of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Match-Splints; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a front view or elevation. Fig. II is a side view or elevation partly in section. Fig. III is a top or` plan view. Fig. IV is a bottom view. Fig'. V is of part in detail.

Similar throughout.

My improvement consists firstly in the construction of the cutters, and secondly in the method of feeding the block of woodto be cut-into splints.

The object of these improvements is twofold. The rst is to facilitate the use of letters indicate similar parts Adler-s patent dipping board by enabling the splints to be fed into said board as fast as cut in a more certain and simple manner than heretofore, whereby expedition and cer tainty of operation are secured in a greater degree. This enables me to introduce another in the construction of the cutters whereby each cutter for a match splint can be made separate so that a great saving both in the first` cost and in their use will be gained thereby.

As cutters are generally made, viz. of one entire plate, they are not only expensive in the making but also when in use, for a breaking of one ruins the whole set. In my construction a broken cutter involves only the loss of the single one, a new one being easily put in place with but slight loss of time in the using of the machine. They may also be readily reground, for renewal of the cutting edge, which is not the case with the old ones. In the old machines when a row of splints has been cut from the l face of the block, the cutters receive a sidewise motion before the next cut is given in order to take off t-he next row of matches from the elevated ridges left by cutting out the previous lot. In feeding into Adlers dipping-board the latter has to receive a sidewise motion also in order to bring the next row of holes opposite to the line of delivery of the splints, this sidewise vibration being required at each cut of splints,

consequently much delicacy of operation is necessary to secure certainty in the splints entering the holes. In my machine the cutter remains stationary, and as a consequence the splints are all delivered in precise direction, hence the dipping board need have motion only in one direction, viz., so as to bring the rows of holes successively before the delivery grooves into which the splints fall after leaving the cutters, so that the splints next following drive the former ones into the holes inthe board. As the cut 'ters are stationary it is the blocks from which the splints are cut that receive the sidewise vibratory motion as well as a feeding motion downward upon the cutters.

At (a) is represented the box which holds the block from which the splints are to be cut, and which block is also represented in place at (a) Fig. II. The front of the box is hung on hinges at its top to form an opening for the introduction of the blocks of wood. It is secured by a cross bar, as seen in Fig. I. At its bottom thereis a spring plate (b) which is for the purpose of pressing` the block against the back of the box and thus keep it from shifting its position until forced down by the feed follower (e). The blocks are fed down by a positive motion given to the aforementioned follower. A spring feed does not answer the requirements because it forces the bottom of said block hard upon the cutters on their return, so that as soon as it has passed the center, one end, (especially when the wood is nearly all cut up) is thrown down and thus risks the wedging of the block in an angular position, whereby at the next cut the grain is presented at such an angle, and the cut-ters thereby are either broken or injured. These pressure springs (5') therefore acting against the end of the blocks keep them suspended until by the feed of the follower (e) they are forced down the right distance for the next cut. This feed is not therefore always sutlicient to bring the block upon the bottom ofthe box, although that is the proper place to obtain a full cut of the splint; but there are sometimes blocks so close grained that to force a full splint through would endanger the cutters. In

such case the feed is reduced by means not vet described, so that a less depth of cut is taken ofi'. VThe splint is not then quite round, but this is of little consequence, especially as it saves the risk of breaking the action on a central roller alternately.

in the several figures.

former motion. The box (a) is placed to Vrun upon two slides (c) which guide it in the direction for carrying the blocks over the cutters. The slides themselves are upon a plate crossing the frame, and to which it is held in a dovetail groove, as seen at (d) and it is the vibration of this plate which carries the box and blocks in the opposite or lateral direction. Over the block is a plate (e) which presses upon the top of the blocks and vis' made to follow and press t-hem down as they are cut away by a screw turned by a ratchet wheel (e). The turning of the ratchet is effected by the pawl (f) which is attached to a rod (f) placed in the back of the box (a) in a v'guiding tube. As the box is drawn back this rod strikes a setting stud (g) and stops its motion with the box, and consequently as the latter continues on a feed takes place on the ratchet.l On the return stroke the pawl is withdrawn by the spring on the rod as shown. The reciprocating motion is given by a crank and pit man (la), and the sidewise motion by cams working upon a second shaft (2') placed beneath the crank-shaft, and this latter being coupled in such way that two revolutions of the upper shaft will make one of t-he lower. On the shaft are two disks placed apart as seen at (j j). On the inner surface of each disk is a cam, so placed as to come into This roller (Z) is at the end of a lever placed beneath the bed or frame ofthe machine, as seen in the bottom View Fig. IV. The opposite end of this is connected to the cross plate (d) by a strong stud ((Z) passing up through the bed as in Fig. II.

The cutters are secured by their shanks to a strong cross piece in the end of the frame so that their eyes will stand a proper distance above the level of the floor to intercept the block and cut the depth necessary for a splint; each cutter is spaced sufficiently far apart to leave wood enough for the next splint. The cutters are seen at (0) In Fig. I it will be seen that they form two sets, `so that two blocks are put into the cutter box at the same time, there being a division piece (c) to keep them apart. Thus by widening the box and the sets of cutters a number of blocks may be cut at the same time.

At (p) is t-he dipping board standing in a sliding rack (not represented as it is of known construction) to receive the splints as fast as cutoff. At (pf) arethe splints moving along grooves or through tubes leading off from the cutters; thus the splints last cut push the others forward and into the holes of the board.

The operation is as follows: The blocks (cz) being placed within the box (a) and the screw (e) fed down until (e) rests upon the blocks, the machine then being put in motion the bottoms of the blocks are carried over the cutters and as many splints are planed off as there are cutters. This cutting has left a series of grooves in the bottom formed by the tops and sides of the cutters plowing out-the splints; the box (a) now retracts by the revolutions of the crank shaft and so soon as the blocks are completely clear of the cutters, the cam (or according to which side the box stood at starting) strikes the roller (Z) moving the lever (m) and with it the cross plate (CZ) thus carrying the splint blocks and box to `one side sufficiently to bring all the projecting ridges left in the previous out directly opposite to the center of the cutters. The blocks now are advanced again, the cam or continuing to act so as to hold the plate (d) firmly in place while the cutting is going on, and also during the withdrawal. The next cam comes into action and again shifts the blocks to the starting side, and the reciprocating and cross vibrations continue until the whole block is cut down. At each revolution of the crank the feed on the follower (c) takes place by means of the pawl and ratchet wheel' as before described. This follows down after each cut and presses the block downward to the extent of the feed regulated by the screw stud (g) the block being prevented from falling farther by the compression of the spring piece (b) for the purpose already described. As each row of splints are by this means delivered eactly in the same place, they are readily inserted successively in the holes of the board by the simple vertical movement of the latter timed so as to bring each successive row of holes opposite to the tubes or splint channels in readiness to receive the splints as they are fed along. i

I claiml. The arrangement of the block-carrier so as to have the two motions herein described, whereby the splints may be cut by stationary cutters as set forth. 2. I claim the method of supporting the block in the box by the longitudinally pressing springs in connection with a feed follower acting in conjunction therewith, as described.

THOMAS COOK.

Witnesses I. I. PINssoN, S. H. MAYNARD. 

